Famous rapper and British chef create “Dream School”

From eSchool News staff and wire reports

June 7th, 2013

The Sundance Channel announced recently the greenlight of a new non-fiction television series, produced by rapper 50 Cent, called “Dream School,” which centers around troubled teens who are paired up with mentors from various professions including musicians, politicians, and more.

The premise of the show is something like this: What would happen if the kids who were the hardest to reach in conventional school, instead attended a place of learning where the educators were achievers and leaders–many of whom have become household names? In “Dream School,” classes are taught by professionals from the top of their fields-and the faculty includes professional musicians, politicians, filmmakers, scientists, actors and artists.

(Next page: Video trailer and Jamie Oliver)

The six-part hour long series, slated to premiere in Fall 2013, “creates a place for troubled teenagers to be inspired to turn their lives around. Homeless, privileged, neglected or bullied; the kids on this show all have one thing in common—they are dropouts,” said the Sundance Channel in a press release. ” High school dropouts are four times as likely to be unemployed as those who have completed four years of college, they are more likely to apply for public assistance, and they comprise a disproportionate percentage of the nation’s prison and death row inmates. 82 percent of prisoners in America are high school dropouts.”

The multi-platinum musician (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) will executive produce under his G-Unit Films and Television banner and appear in the show.

“The importance of ‘Dream School’ is monumental,” he said in a statement. “Helping to inspire these students to reach their potential is personally gratifying.”

The series format was created by Jamie Oliver, a famous British chef and media personality who will also executive produce under his Fresh One shingle. The idea for the show comes from Oliver, who began Dream School in the UK.

Check out the trailer for “Jamie’s Dream School” UK:

“The series of Dream School we did in the UK was one of the things I’m most proud of,” he said in a statement. “We literally changed the lives of many of the kids for the better: some of them went back to school and are now excelling; some of them found out that, despite being told in school that they would never achieve anything, they were actually very gifted at art or acting and went on to achieve great things. But ‘Dream School’ is tough–both for the kids and for the teachers. It’s not going to be an easy ride because there are always big characters to deal with and often tensions run high.”

Sundance Channel President, Sarah Barnett, stated,“Dream School will be at times devastating, at times deeply uplifting, and entirely full of the genuine conflict and struggle that goes along with true transformation. Viewers will see that play out, not just from the teenagers in the show but also from the celebrities and educators who have signed on for this tough yet potentially life-changing project.”